One thing you may want to consider, Jeanette_Isabelle, is if there is a lesser emergency where you may want to be able to treat a tension pneumothorax, but there’s still a good shot at getting to definitive care in time.

Burn kits....we have them too. Haven't had the need to REALLY use one. Mostly more for the comfort factor. Burn Center Doc told us the most important thing was a CLEAN dressing when it comes to open wounds. I'd go with chaosmagnet...one or two packages.

Something else I'm finding VERY handy....ok necessary.... a small 10x magnifying mirror. Self treating facial or eye stuff.... I can't really see close anymore without my 'cheaters'. I almost always have the magnifying mirror.

Something else I'm finding VERY handy....ok necessary.... a small 10x magnifying mirror. Self treating facial or eye stuff.... I can't really see close anymore without my 'cheaters'. I almost always have the magnifying mirror.

You started with a good basic kit. Unless you are planning on an EOTWAWKI scenario, keep it light. Concentrate on controlling hemorrhage, stabilizing wounds (Sam splint) and simple fractures, a few basic meds (ONLY for family and friends. Don't give meds to anyone you don't know! (Aspirin mainly 82mg for potential Heart attack), anti nausea, anti diarrheal, minor topical antibiotics, Minor analgesic, (Tylenol AND ibuprofen or naproxen) dressings (triangular are often overlooked but great) bandages, and assessment tools. (flashlight, stethoscope, BP cuff) You can learn auscultation skills (listening to lung and bowel sounds) here for free:

You will gain some very important info from listening to body sounds and monitoring BP.

Remember, under the Good Samaritan laws, you need not fear lawsuits IF you stay with BASIC skills. If you start I.V.s do needle decompressions etc you are over the line.

Also, regarding burn dressings, they are nice but generally unneeded for emergent situations. Learn to assess degree of burns and cover them with a sterile dressing and you are fine. Trust me when I tell you when they reach an ER they will remove the dressings and SCRUB the burns with brushes. (yes, it hurts like H@ll!) but has to be done.

Also, regarding burn dressings, they are nice but generally unneeded for emergent situations. Learn to assess degree of burns and cover them with a sterile dressing and you are fine. Trust me when I tell you when they reach an ER they will remove the dressings and SCRUB the burns with brushes. (yes, it hurts like H@ll!) but has to be done.

As a former burn victim--2nd and 3rd: face, ears, and scalp--the brushing will give you a whole new reference point on a scale of 1 to 10...

You are so correct about the torture of the daily debriefing. I had the pleasure of spending 3 days in a local burn ward, after receiving second and 3 degree on my face, neck, and arms. (Never stick your face into a ongoing explosion of low flammability solvent!)

I remember two surreal moments. . .

In the ER, being in acute pain and feeling the unique pain of second degree burns AND being doused with iced saline. . .(freezing and burning at the same time) and

Daily debridement with scrub brushes. Darn that really hurt! If I knew then what I know now as an RN, I would have insisted on a dissociative anesthetic like ketamine.

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